There’s a healthy northside versus southside rivalry in Canberra but there’s also one competitive suburb that prides itself on being THE best place to live, period.
Kambah is turning 50 and the postcode 2902 is so parochial it produces its own line of merchandise (t-shirts, stubby coolers, beanies), custom-designed tattoos (real ones), and two months of parties.
Just like the song Hotel California, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. In one street alone, an entire family (parents and kids) live side-by-side as neighbours and every Sunday they catch up for a weekly meal at one of their homes. There’s even an incident where one Kambah resident sold up and moved to Jerrabomberra and, upon realising her mistake, promptly moved back to the same street.
Kambah resident Julie Long, who volunteers on the Kambah 50th birthday committee, has lived there since 1981. Every Wednesday, she goes to a “sassy septuagenarians” coffee catch-up at Kambah Inn with 25 others wearing large-print name tags, “we are septuagenarians after all”.
“One of our septuagenarians remembers when she and her husband were given a list of 20 blocks of land to choose from in Kambah and Chapman,” Julie said. “She chose Kambah and moved in over Easter in 1975 – she still lives in the same house. Her children and grandchildren went to Mt Taylor Primary school and her daughter now teaches there. They all love the sense of community that comes with living in Kambah.”
Julie’s neighbours over the fence are the original owner/builders – as are her neighbours across the road. They just don’t want to leave.
Julie still belongs to a Kambah mothers’ group that formed in 1988 and used to hold regular street parties, bonfires and fireworks over the back fence (when it was still legal).
“We all met when our children were in pre-school in Kambah and since that time we have dinner once a month to keep in touch,” Julie said.
Over the years, Julie’s street has seen Melbourne Cup dress-ups, Raiders parties (whenever they were in the finals), Halloween nights, pre-Christmas catch ups and New Year’s Eve gatherings.
“Stories like these could be told of many areas in our suburb,” Julie said. “There is a great sense of connection and we’re very proud to be turning 50 and still having that community passion for being someone who lives in Kambah.”
Kambah locals never leave a party early, so 50th celebrations are spread over two months. On August 10 there’s a lantern walk, on August 17 Kambah Wake Tattoo invites locals to get a commemorative tattoo, on 31st August there’s a fair and car display at Kambah Village, and on 14th September there’s sunrise and sunset walks up Mt Taylor (with champers at the top). There are too many events to list here so checkout the Kambah Fifty Facebook page.
Kambah’s prized public art at the local village – sheep sculptures by artist Matthew Harding – will also be dressed to the nines.
If you’d like to wear your heart on your sleeve, order an official “I Love Kambah” or “Straight Outta Kambah” t-shirt at https://straightouttakambah.com.au/
